Potteryware decorating machine



Jan. 10, 1950 w. H. EMERSON POTTERYWARE DECORATING MACHINE Filed June 26, 1943 wrrmssssS. A".

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6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

@l'wwu n/ Jan. 10, 1950 w. H. EMERSON POTTERYWARE DECORATING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 26, 1943 JED. .rm.

INVENTOR.

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Jan. 10, 1950 w. EMERSON 2,493,953

POTTERYWARE DECORATING MACH INE Filed June 26, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 10, 1950 w. H.-EMERSON POTTERYWARE DECORATING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 26, 1945' INVENTOR WITNEJJEJ A Jan. 10, 1950 w. H. EMERSON POTTERYWARE DECORATING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 26, 1945 INVENTOR- WITNESJEJ Jan. 10, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 26, 1945 Ill ,m a 7 m 0 7% 6 z m P y w w 7 "w M 1 1 m T 1 1 1 u 4 ll, 6 8 2 W r m N A m M J 5 H H M m 1 5676 5M M a i 1 M H a my! I Patented Jan. 10, 1956 POTTERYWARE DECORATING MACHINE Walter H. Emerson, East Liverpool, ,0hio, assignor to The Homer Laughlin China Company, Newell, W. Va., a corporation of Delaware Application June 26, 1943, Serial No. 492,347

This invention relates to potteryware decorating apparatus, and more particularly to appara tus for stamping decorations on articles of dinnerware.

The customary way of stamping decorations on dinnerware is by hand. Thus, a workman holds in his hand a rubber stamp which carries a short segment of the circular design that is to be stamped on a piece of Ware. He inks the stamp and then presses it against the ware. This operation is repeated as he rotates the ware until enough segments of the design are printed to complete a circle. If another circular design is desired at the center of the ware, the step-bystep process must be repeated again. It will be seen that such a method is very slow and requires skilled labor to match the sections of the design, to make the design circular, and to print the design clearly without smearing it.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide potteryware decorating apparatus which stamps a complete design on a piece of ware in a single operation, which simultaneously stamps both brim and center designs, which accurately positions designs on the ware, which is automatic, which is rapid in operation, and which does not require a skilled attendant.

In accordance with this invention a support is provided for the ware that is to be decorated and an inking member is located a fixed distance laterally from the support. A decorating stamp member is disposed in a plane above the ware support and the inking member. Means is provided for reciprocating one of the members laterally in a substantially straight line so that the stamp member is alternately directly above the inking member and the Ware support. Means is also provided for effecting relative vertical movement between the stamp member and the underlying support and inking member in order to ink the stamp and then to stamp decoration on the ware. Preferably, it is the inking member that is reciprocated horizontally, and the ware support moves with it. It is also preferred that the stamping member be the element that is reciprocated vertically.

The capacity of the machine can be doubled by using a pair of laterally spaced ware supports with the inking member disposed between them. In such a case, two stamping members are provided and are spaced apart such a distance that when either one engages the inking member the other engages a piece of ware on the underlying ware support. Thus, every time the stamps descend, one of them is inked and the other stamps 9 Claims. (Cl. 101-41) ware. Before it is stamped, the ware is cen-v t'ered on its support and is then held in centeredposition, preferably by suction.

Adesign may be stamped on the center of a piece of ware as well as on itsbrim portion by forming each stamping member from a pair ,of

coaxial stamps one of which is movable axially of the other. During inking, the decorating surfaces of the two stamps are disposed in substantially the same plane, after which the inner stamp projects from the outer one for stamping the center of the ware at the same time that the outer stampstamps the marginal portion thereof. During stamping, the outer stamp may be flexed to conform it to the inclination of the surface that it is to decorate.

"The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my machine with the stamps raised; Fig. 2 is a vertical section with the stamps lowered; Fig. 3 is an end viewtaken on the line III-III of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal'seotion taken on the line IVIV of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an enlarged frag mentary plan view of the reciprocating slide taken on the line V-V of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line VI-VI of Fig. 5'; Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical section through a stamping member engaging the inking member; and Fig. 8 is a similar view of the stamping member engaging a dinner plate to decorate it.

Reference will now be made to the drawings. Mounted on the elongated rectangular top of a table I are four brackets 2 that support the ends of a pair of laterally spaced parallel guide rails 3 extending lengthwise of the table. A long, narrow rectangular slide 4 between these bars is provided with laterally projectin slotted shoes 5 that straddle the rails and support them for.

reciprocation lengthwise. Additional brackets 6 support the rails between their ends. Projecting from the bottom of the slide near its center is a bearing 1 that is pivotally connected by a link 8 to the upper end of a lever 9 Which is oscillatably mounted at its lower end in a bearing I0 fastened to a plate ll near the bottom of the table. In order to reciprocate the slide, the central portion of the lever is provided with a laterally projecting roller I3 that travels in a cam groove M in the front side of a circular cam disc l5. This cam is rigidly mounted on a horizontal cam shaft l6 one end of which is journaled in a bearing I'l (Figs. 3 and 4) fastened to a vertical plate I8 extending across the back of the table.

The other end of the shaft extends through a bearing mounted on the side of a vertical member 2| near the center of the table. The front end of the cam shaft extends into a gear reduction unit 22 that is driven by a pulley 23 and belt 24 from an electric motor 25 mounted on base plate H. The cam groove is shaped so that the slide is held motionless. for a short time at each entl of its stroke. Y

Mounted on each end of the slide is a waresupporting member in the form of a horizontalchuck 21 the annular wall of which is rubber or other suitable resilient material! 'Ilh'e critfof" the chuck has a passage opening into the upper end of a vertical pipe 28 on" which th'chiick} is rigidly mounted. The pipe eiitends l dowfi'" through the slide and is supported by a coupling 29 secured to the bottom of the s'lidz shown in Fig. 1, the coupling is connected by a flexible hose 30 to a horizontal pipe 3| that is connected to a suitable source of suction (not shown). Pipe fl is rigidly mounteddn a pair" of brackets 32' on topof the table beneath one; side of the slide. The upperend-sof the brackets-{are provided with non-circular passages inwhiclra bar 35 1s slidably mounted; "I'he'centei ofth'e. bar has'a" depending" lug' 36 that actuates a slide valve 37 on" the pipe. 'I'he valvepreferably is ofthe tybe known as Quik-as Wink. The nds. of the bar are provided' with upwardly project": memos- 3s which are adapted to be alternately engaged-by a-depending lug139 on thebottomof the reciprocating slide. Thus; when' the'slide moves in one direction it strikesone ofthe pins and moves 'the bar to open? thevalve; thereby" reducing the air pressure between the "chuck and a piece of ware, suchas 'a plate 'A I, on the chuck. Thisdraws' the plate down tightly onto the chuck and holdsit thereagainstdisplaceinent during] stap ng. After the s lidehas'1noved'aprede ter'niine'd distance in the opposite'=dirction, lug

39 engages the other'pin'and ni'o'ves thebarjto closethe' valve. A-sim'ilar valveand actuating nfechanism are mounted 'on the opposite"sidie of' the table for controlling the suction of'th' other chuck.

Just before the valve is opened; the plate is centered on the'ohuckb tlireyerticai centering" pins su 'rooimteo on th'e ends of arnji'sil, shown best -irf Figs; B and' 6 Theopposlteehdsj of the arms arepiyotally mounted n'tneupper enas of" pins 52' secured to the" top of'th'e" slid'"at"'e"q'i11ly spaced intervals around the chuck and at'uniforin'fdistances from itsax'is'. Rotatablyfrnoufited je'ctsfinto' a peripheralgi'oov'ina horizontal ring.

54% Ther'ing is'rotaitablysupportedbytherollersl its bottom and down' through a: not" ail" m th slide andintoon'e'end of, aIpii'sh'rod 6'2 thatfisl rcipro'cable in a bearing. 63"pivoted to the ibottoffi' of tlislide'; as shown infFigT 6I Thisirodeiitends transversely of the slide; andits outer end carries a'blocktll. to the bottom of'which'. a r0ll'er'6 5 is attached. The roller isiurgeq" outwardly. into e gagement with'a cam-bar: s1 by amen crank sai'oivotauy coniiectdtofthe' bottoni of th'slide:

One arm of the crank has a bifurcated end that straddles pin above the push rod, while the other end of the crank is connected by a coil spring 69 to a pin 10 projecting from the bottom of the slide. The crank is biased in a direction that pushes rod 62 toward the cam bar and that will rotate the centering ring in a counter-clockwise direction-ta swing-the centering pins inwardly when ron'er 65 runs off the cam bar. The distance that the centering pins can be moved inwardly is controlled by a set screw 12 mounted in a threaded member 13 secured to the adjacent en'd' of theslide; The inner end of this screw is engaged by alug Mon the bell crank after the latter has rotated the desired amount.

. The cam bar 67 is rigidly mounted on top of a block 15 that is slidable transversely of the table in a" guide member 76 attached to one of the brackets 2 below the front guide rail 3. A screw 1? is journa led in the bracket 2 and is threaded through. block 15 so that by turning the screw the cambar'can, be moved toward or away from the center of thetablein, order to cause the center ingpin's' to swing'outwardly to a greater'or lesser extent. The inner end of the cam bar is inclined outwardly so'th'at roller "will rollofi thebar and"permit spring. 69 to move the centeringpin'sinwardly. This centers a' plate on the chuck.

Immediately thereafter 'the camroller engagesanother cain'f'lii (Fig 5) which causes the centering pins to bemoved outwardly. again before stamping takes place;- This can! is pivotally.

table.

Mounted on the slide midway between the two chucks an" inkingniember which includes a circular disc or platen 83 rigidly mounted on the upper'end of a shaft 84 journaled in a bearing 85- mounte on the center of the slide. As th slide movesba'ck an'dforth, the platen is inked withgfold, silveror other ceramic color by a pair of inking rolls 8l'mounted aboveit. The front ends of the rolls are journaled in bearings 88 attached to. a vertical plate 89' mounted on the The opposite ends of the rolls are journaled in bearings 9! mounted-on aplate 92 supported above the table by theside front guide rail 3.

flanges ofano u-pright frame Simouhtedontop of" the'table. I The desired color may be suppl-ied to: the inking. rolls from small tanks 94 supportedabove them The color is forced out of small:

openings in the bottoms of. the tanks at the-dcsired rate by air pressure Winch is supplied-to the tanks in any convenient manner.

Every time the slide'reciprocates; plate-n 83 is rotated a few degreesby an arm 91 mountedon* the upper end of ashaft 98i-that isjournaled in I bearing. 99 in the top of theta-hie; The-freeend of. the arm mayb bifurcated to-straddle anyone of, a series of pins l-tl. projecting: downwardly?- from'a collar mounted on the lower=end ofqpla=ten-- shaftM; If desired,'the-p1aten canbe--heldsta"- tionarywhile thear-m is bein swung back toits original position, by a spring-pressed dog (03" (Fig. 5) pivotaily mounted on the bottom of the slide with itsfree end providedT with a lateral-- notch. that receives one of thepins I 0!.

The lower end of shaft E8 on which thearmis mounted-isconnected to-one endof an arm I05 76 theopposite end of-whiehispivotally connected by a link I03 to the upper end of a lever I01. The central .portion of the lever is pivotally supported by a bearing I08 mounted on the side of a vertical member I09. The lower end of the lever carries a roller I II that projects into a cam groove H2 in a plate H3 that is rigidly mounted on one side of a cam disc I I4. This disc is rigidly mounted on cam shaft I6. As the shaft rotates, the cam groove oscillates the lever and thereby swings the platen arm 91 back and forth to periodically index the platen.

Disposed directly above the inking platen and also directly above one of the chucks when the slide is atv either end of its path of travel are a pair of stamps H5 and III; for decorating the upper surfaces of ware mounted on the chucks. Each of these stamps is supported by a rod II1 that is detachably connected at its upper end to the lower end of a rod I I 8 that is adjustable vertically in a vertical tube II9. For this purpose the upper end portion of each rod I I8 is threaded in a nut I2I that can be turned by a handle I22. The lower end of the nut has a flange underlying a cap I23 that is screwed on the upper end of the tube so that the nut can not mov away from the tube. The tubes are vertically reciprocable in bearings I24 projecting from the front plate I25 of the frame.

Each of the tubes is reciprocated, in order to reciprocate the stamp it supports, by a crank. The crank includes a link I21 that is pivotally connected to the side of the tube and to a crank disc I28. The disc is rigidly mounted on one end of a shaft I29 that is journaled in frame 93 and its front plate I25. This shaft preferably in two parts normally connected together by a manually operable clutch I30 (Fig. 3). The rear end of the shaft carries a sprocket I32 which is connected by a chain I33 to a large sprocket I34 journaled in the lower portion of the frame. The chain between the two upper sprockets passes under an idler sprocket I35 that is adjustable verticall in the back of the frame so as to keep the chain taut. It will be seen that as the large sprocket is oscillated, the smaller sprockets likewise will be oscillated and the cranks will therefore raise and lower the stamps.

To oscillate the large sprocket, it is pivotally connected by a link I31, that extends down through the top of the table, to the free end of a horizontal lever I38 the opposite end of which is oscillatably mounted in a bearing I39 attached to a vertical member I40. The central portion of this lever carries a laterally projecting roller I42 that extends into a cam groove in cam disc I I4. This groove is the same shape as cam groove I4, and is directly behind it. In fact, it is possible to operate both of the main levers from a single cam groove. Cam I I4 and lever I38 oscillate the large sprocket I34 through a. 90 arc. This sprocket has approximately four times as many teeth as either of the smaller sprockets I32 so that the latter will be oscillated about 360. Thus, the large sprocket may have eighty teeth while each of the small sprockets may have twenty-one teeth; This makes it possible to get the cranks and stamps in motion before much force is applied to the stamp. It will be seen that when the upper end of link I31 has traveled 45 from either the upper or the lower end of its path, crank links I21 will be in their lower position and the stamps will therefore be in engagement with inking platen and ware on one of the chucks. Continued movementof. link I31 for the other 45 of the arc will raise the stamps to their original position. The

is made same thing happens when the link moves inthe opposite direction. In Fig. .1 the upper end-of link I31 is shown in its upper position,. so the stamps are raised. In Fig. 2 the large sprocket I34 has been. rotated 45, so the stamps'are in their lower or stamping position. By the time the sprocket. has turned another 45 in the same direction the stamps will be brought by their actuating cranks to their upper position.

If only the center or the brim of the ware is to be decorated by a single stamping member, the latter can be a unitary stamp rigidl mounted on the lower end of rod II1. On the other hand, if decorations are desired for both the center and brim of theware, it will save time to stamp both decorations simultaneously. This can be donein accordance with this invention, as shown in Figs. 2, 7, and 8, by providing each stamping memher with a center stamp I50 encircled by a brim stamp I5I. The center stamp is mounted on the bottomof a disc I52 which is rigidly mounted on the lower end of rod I I1 so that the lower surface of the stamp always descends to the same level, whether it is being inked or is stamping a piece of ware. Slidably mounted on rod II1 above the disc is a metal plate I53 that is normally held in its lower position on the rod, as shown in Fig. '1, by means of a coil spring I54 encirclin the rod and compressed between the plate and a collar I55 on the rod above it. The lower surface of the plate I53 carries the annular brim stamp I5I that encircles the disc I52 and the center stamp I50. The brim stamp has an inner annular recess into which the disc I52 extends so that it overlies a substantial portion of the brim stamp; The bodies of the stamps are made of deformable resilient material, such as sponge rubber.

When the stamping member is raised and also when it engages the inking platen, the lower surface of its center and brim stamps lie in a common horizontal plane, as shown in Fig. '7 because spring I54 urges plate I53 down to its lowest position. The two stamps I and I5I thus engage the inking platen flat and with the same pressure for uniform inking of their surfaces. However, in stamping a piece of ware, such as dinner plate M or the like, the two stamps will engage the ware at different levels. If their decorating surfaces lie in the same plane, the brim stamp would be so highly compressed by the plate brim that the brim design would be smeared and indistinct. To avoid this, the plate M is supported with the flat upper surface of its bottom at substan-'- tially the same level as the top of the inking platen so that the center stamp I50 will engage.

the plate 4| with just the right amount of pressure, and the downward movement of the brim stamp I5I is restrained in order to elevate it relative to the center stamp. This restraint is effected by vertical pins I 51 mounted on top of slide 4 around the chuck. As a stamping member descends toward an underlying piece of ware, its plate I53 strikes the tops of these pins by which further movement of that plate is prevented just as the outer edge of the brim stamp engages the brim of the ware, but rod H1 and the center,

stamp continue to descend a short distance farther so that disc I52 secured to a rod presses the inner portion of the brim stamp downwardly. This action presses the decorating surface of the brim stamp down against the inclined brim of the ware as the center stamp strikes the center of the ware, as shown in Fig. 8. The outer stamp I51 thus engages the ware with substantially the same pressure as the inner stamp I50. When the s mmers -w rotate ima?-clockaw-iseidirectiort; thelever 'ii is swmg to therright moves -the sli'de to the on its guide rails. I As soon asrQIIer-GS of th centering'deviceruns ofi-the inner end-"of 'cam W theicentering fingers il a-re swung ihwardl-yby spring fi and the were isthereby centerectbn the chuck? Immediately fo11owing th-is;= slide-valve 31 a-t theiront oithe table is opened so' thati vaeuumis appliedtothechu'ck to hold? the Ware in centered 1 position' thereon; The slide 'carries: the cl'iuck under 'stampir'i'g; member I 1-5 and then? stops-whilecam H4" and level" I38"cause' both stampsto descend inunison; A'sshown' irrFig; stamping member I i-5; which previouslyhas been inked, stamps a decoration on" theware' beneath 'it" in themanner illustrated'in Fig; 8, but stamping member" H6 engages; the-inking; p1aten"bywhich color isappliedito it. Th'efpl'aten, received color from roll'stl as it pa'ssed"under them; The'shape oficam groove lil2'is such that, itcau'ses arm"9 1"ftoi rotate :platen' 83 a few degrees; Whfl'thefstampj are, descending, andthen. a few moreid'egreesafter the stamps. have. started to. rise"again. The ware whichpreviously was=dec.- orated; by, stampingmember. HE is carried b'y the slide to theworkmanattheri'ght. endli'oflthe table. where it removed from, thechuck a-nd. is-.replaced by; an undecoratedlTpiecea- Continued; rotation of. cam H41 causes, the

stamping memberstobe raised againaf-tenwhich 40 the slideis moved-by; lever. 9 backsto theglef-t to carry the right-handchuck under stamping meme.- ber LI '6, and. tolocate the 1 platen;- under: stamping, member. H5; Whem the. stampinggroups -latera-lly stepabyestepsosthat eacwstamp is? first above:v therein-king platen-sand .ithene above onerof saidrsupportmand meansoperativebetween the pauses tisaidzistepse for efiectingi;v relative vertical :movementsbetween. saidl-groupsi-inz'a subs stantially straighti'line wherebyztov inkthe stamps and; toe stampa decoration. OnT the: ware on; said supports: 2.. potterywane zdecoratirrgzmachinecomprise ing: a grouprsofi elements; including; a; pair oblate erally spaced supports iorrware being; clecorated with an inlring plat-en betweerr: them; at: second group o'f elements above the first group. andizine cludi'ng a pair of laterally." spaced: decorating stamps; means for=moving said lowergroup lat: erally to position saidinking platen for a1pre= determined: periodunder first one: stamp and: then the other and' to alternatelyposition each of said'supports'under'the nearest stamp, and means 205 operative during each peri'od -for 'efiectingarelative' vertical movement between said groups whereby'to ink thestamps and to stamp'decora' tion on the wareon'saidsupports.

3. A potterywaredecoratingmachine compris= ing a; laterally re'ciprocable support; a pair-offlati erally" spaced; ware holding chucks mounted thereon; an inkingplaten' mounted on saidf sup; port midway betweensaid chucks; a ipair of"1atv erally'spacedand"'verticailyreciprocabledecoratm stamps. above said,. support;'. the, distance"b'e-.

tween the. centers of said; stamps being substanltially the same as the. distance. between theicene. ters of the inking platenand each chuck, ,means for. reciprocating said; suppcrt laterally with .a-, pause between each reversal oi..movement,' .and means. operative during; each? pause. for. moving; thestamps downwardly tow-engage.- them alter! nately 1 with, theink-ingplaten; and wareomsaici. chucks; 4. A potterywaredecorating; machinericompris i ing a. laterally reciprocablesupport, alipair of late; erally spaced. wareholding chuclgs mounted: there-.- on,.,an inking member mounted on saick-suppolde midway between 1 said chucks; .aepairrofi laterallip rnen bersdescend -inorder to-inkeoneandgto pressi spaced and; verticallyrecipno-cable decorating the othenagainst the rightaharid pli efath'e dew I orated left-handi plateisremoveda rrd replaced-by: another-plateby the workmantatthe leftiendrofi that-tables no wi'lh thus be; seem that: this? machine. can;

operate-r very: rapidlys' and that it; has a high: capacity; because;apiecetohwarerismoved? undem onestamp: every'time-the;slidevmovesza. decorated niece: away from: the other stamp .1 stamping both: center and brim; simultaneously; thezperformance :oii a: secomitstamping-:5- operation: same ware isi eliminated-and properposi tioning: of. the two decoration'se relatiirei to: each: othenis assured:

. According-maths,:provisions:of1 tl ie2patenti stat utes,-' Ic have? explained: the principle and con= struction: of: my invention and "av'e illustrated and? described: whatzI no-w considerto rep'reseht itsrbesirembodirnent. Howevem'r' desireto have it 6 ufiderstood: within the scopemf the-appendd the'='-invention may be'practieed otherwi'se tmtmas specifieally 'illustrated and-described.

Ii'cl'aimz A? potteryware decorating'machinecompris iia'g ae'group of elements -includin'g' a: of at:

' eraliy spaced supports forware being decorated? aninning: laten-e between them; a? second group or elements abovethe fii'sie group and tr-- eluding a pair oi laterally spaceddGGBaEblrii? 75 stamps, means for reciprocating one of said stamps above said supp ort,-;thewdistancesbetween: the: centersy of -saidzstamps.'beingisubstantiallwthe same. as 'thel'distance betweenzthe centers-:ofr the:- inking; member and: each crutch,v an 1 inkingeuolll disposedcabove said supportmidwayf between-the; stamps; for: periodic: engagement by ther inking: memben while: the latter movin'g .v laterallzw means for reciprocating; said;- support: laterally! A-lsoga. by, with a-pause between each.reversaliofimovementi andzmeansioperative during each pause for move: ing: the: stamps downwardly to' engage: them -.al ternately withethe inking: memberz ware om said chucks;

5". .A potteryware decoratingmachi-necompris ing' a". vertically reciprocable decoratin stamp: oscillatablercrank means: for reciprocating said? stamp, a: chain and sprockets operatively con nected to said crank means; and means for 05-- cillating: onel or" saidsprockets in am are long? enough to turn said crank means sufiicientlyt'o mover'th'e stamp down and up.

6'; A pdtteryware decorating machine-compris ingI-a pair of'laterallyspaced and-"vertically-re cipro'cabler decorating stamps; a pair of 'sprockets';

crank means operatively' connecting eachsprocket :to a s-tamp for reciprocating it; athird sprocket, an endless chain engaging all three sprockets," and means for oscillating said:- third sprocket whereby toiturn'- the other two=-sprockets-" simultaneously.

'7. A potteryware decorating machine comprising a pair of laterally spaced and vertically reciprocable decorating stamps, a sprocket operatively connected to each stamp for reciprocating it, a third sprocket having more than twice as many teeth as either of the other sprockets, an endless chain engaging all three sprockets, and cam-actuated means for oscillating said third sprocket in an arc of less than 180 whereby to turn the other two sprockets simultaneously.

8. A potteryware decorating machine suitable for concave articles of dinnerware, comprising a base, a horizontal slide member disposed on said base, a ware-holding chuck mounted on each end portion of the slide, an inking platen mounted on said slide midway between said chucks, a pair of laterally spaced and vertically reciprocable decorating stamps disposed above said slide, the distance between the centers of the stamps being the same as the distance between the centers of the inking platen and either chuck, slide-reciprocating means for moving the slide lengthwise from a position where said platen is directly below one stamp to a position where it is directly below the other stamp, said slide-reciprocating means holding the slide stationary in each of said positions for a predetermined interval, means for moving said stamps downwardly during each interval to press one stamp against said platen and to press the other stamp against ware on the underlying chuck, and an inking roll disposed above said slide and between the stamps for engaging and inking the platen when the slide moves the platen from either of said positions to the other.

9. A potteryware decorating machine suitable for concave articles of dinnerware, comprising a base, a horizontal slide member disposed on said base, a ware-holding chuck mounted on each end portion of the slide, an inking platen mounted on said slide midway between said chucks, a pair of laterally spaced and vertically reciprocable decorating stamps disposed above said slide, the distance between the centers of the stamps being the same as the distance between the centers of the inking platen and either chuck, slide-reciprocating means for moving the slide lengthwise from a position where said platen is directly below one stamp to a position where it is directly below the other stamp, means carried by the slide adj acent each chuck for centering ware thereon,

10 means mounted on said base for actuating said centering means when the slide is in motion, said slide-reciprocating means holding the slide stationary in each of said positions for a predetermined interval, means for moving said stamps downwardly during each interval to press one stamp against said platen and to press the other stamp against ware on the underlying chuck, and an inking roll disposed above said slide and between the stamps for engaging and inking the platen when the slide moves the platen from either of said positions to the other.

WALTER H. EMERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 116,132 Wright June 20, 1871 373,236 Jacobson Nov. 15, 1887 401,455 Nelson Apr. 16, 1889 418,236 Schulze-Berge Dec. 31, 1889 613,721 Rentschler Nov. 8, 1898 622,816 Lippincott Apr. 11, 1899. 667,589 Silverman Feb. 5, 1901 773,748 Joisten Nov. 1, 1904 793,809 Tongue et al. July 4, 1905 975,010 Young Nov. 8, 1910 1,125,995 Feuerstein Jan. 26, 1915 1,144,340 Campbell June 22, 1915 1,319,959 Jones Oct. 28, 1919 1,466,027 Metzner Aug. 28, 1923 1,599,918 OI-Iara Sept. 14, 1926 1,801,899 Bischoff Apr. 21, 1931 1,960,486 Freeman May 29, 1934 2,077,790 Hakogi Apr. 20, 1937 2,105,400 Booth Jan. 11, 1938 2,132,495 Robbins Oct. 11, 1938 2,166,138 Gundlach July 18, 1939 2,335,213 Lawrence Nov. 23, 1943 2,350,033 Hebenstreit May 30, 1944 2,372,089 Keller Mar. 20, 1945 2,437,224 Emerson Mar. 2, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 7,180 Great Britain Apr. 5, 1899 416,511

Great Britain Sept. 17, 1934 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,493,953 January 10, 1950 WALTER H. EMERSON It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 8, line 3, for the word between read during; line 4, for of read between; column 8, line 53, after member strike out the comma and insert the same after laterally same line;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 9th day of May, A. D. 1950.

[sun] THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Oommzsst'oner of Patents. 

